Projectile for signaling or illuminating purposes



Sept. 23 1930. games, J R ET AL 1,776,755

PROJECTILE FOR SIGNALING OR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES 7 Filed July 20, 1929 a Sheets-Sheet 1 lnnentors S p .9193 L. 1.. DR|\GGS. JRQ. ET AL 1,776,755

PROJECTILE FOR SIGNALING OR ILLUMINATING'PURPQSES Filed July 20. 1929 2 sheets-snea 2 Patented Sept. 23, 1930 rr err PATENT OFFICE LOUIS L. DRIGGS, JR., OF NEW ROCHELLE, AND HENRY YB. FABER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PBOJ'ECTILE FOR SIGNALING OR ILLUMINATING PURPOSE S Application filed July 20, 1929. Serial No. 379,770.

Our present invention relates to improvements in fixed ammunition for use with small arms and is intended to cover an improvement on the projectile shown in our Patent No.

51,712,383, dated May 7, 1929, and entitled F ixed ammunition for firearms. Our present invention is primarily intended to provide a combined flare and parachute, which may be projecteda short but suflicient distance from an airplane or dirigible, or from any other station afloat, or ashore, or in the air, by employing a short barrel firearm, us-

ing a comparatively small expelling charge, and ejecting the projectile at a low initial velocity.

Any suitable firearm may be used, such, for instance, as is described in our Patent No. 1,712,382, granted May 7, 1929 and entitled Improvements in firearm. Our present invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a central longitudinal section through. the fixed ammunition, parts be- 'ing shown in elevation.

Figures 2, 3. 4 and 5 show, respectively, sections along the lines 2-2, 33 44, and 5-5 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the fixed ammunition in place in the firearm,

before and after the piece has been fired, and after the projectile has been expelled.

Figure 7 is also a diagrammatic view showing the. container for the flare composition and parachute after the flare and the parachute have been ejected therefrom.

Figure 8 shows the parts to the right of Figure '7 just before the parachute opens.

and

Figure 9 shows the parachute supporting the flare, as the latter moves gently downwards.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5. A reprebe made of metal, or other suitable material, and may be provided with an annular groove (1 to hold the cartridge case in the piece, as described in our Patent No. 1,7 2,382, aforesaid.

sents the cartridge cas proper, which may The head a of this cartridge case is perforated as at a to receive the blank cartridge A, which contains suflicient powder to eject the projectile from the piece, as will be hereafter described.

B represents the container, which may be made of fiber or cardboard, or even light metal if desired, but preferably of fiber or cardboard. If made of fiber or cardboard,

it should bemade properly water-proof, as

by the use of paraflin, or the like.

This container B has the reduced hollow stem 1), which fits snugly in the cartridge case A and an enlarged cylindrical portion 6' connected to the stem 6 by the annular shoulder 6 This enlarged portion forms a loading chamber in which the flare and parachute are mounted. In the stemfI provide a chamber for. the expelling charge C, which may be of suitable powder. This chamber is closed by the wad. D. The expelling charge is ignited by the fuse E mounted in the fuse stem E, whose outer end is preferably cup shaped, as at e, and its other end closed but provided with openings e for the passage of flame from the time fuse.

In front of this chamber is the rear head 7 of the flare container F. This head may be perforated, as at f, and closed with thin paper, or other combustible material. In front of this head 7 is the priming composition G, and in front of that is the flare composition G. flare container may be reinforced in any con venient way, as at i to engage the cord H, connecting the said flare container with the parachute I.

In the forward end of the container '5 we mount two wads of felt, or the like, J and K, between which wads the stiffening rod M, preferably of light wood, is mounted, and between said wads and surrounding this stiffening rod M the parachute is folded, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 5.

The function of this rod is to prevent the unnecessary crushing of the parachute when the flare and parachute are ejected from the container B. The front end of the container B may be closed in any convenient way as y the waterproof cup shaped cap L. Th s The forward head f of the cap may be made of cardboard, or fiber, or the like, and all of the parts of the exterior of the projectile should be properly waterproofed.

It will be noted that the projectile fired from the gun Q comprises the container B and all partsenclosed therein, and that the expelling charge C is not ignited until the quick match, or fuse composition E, has

burnt a suitable time to permit the projecdiagrammatically as intact in Figure 7.

After the parts have attained the position shown in Figure 7, the weight of the flare will cause it to fall more rapidly than the lighter parachute, and the parts will assume the position substantially as indicated in Figure 8, which shows the parachute as partly distended, and the wads J and K, and cap L and rod M all clear ofthe parachute or flare, and the flare will then cause the parachute to spread, the Hare and parachute assuming the position shown in Figure 9. In this position, the flare supported by the parachute will float gently downwards, and the light will be thrown downward.

At this time, the parachute will serve in a measure as a reflector, tending to better illuminate theregiou below.

I In the operation of the device, the initial velocity of the container B, after leaving the gun, will be comparatively small, and by using a small expelling charge C inthe stem 1) just suihcient to blow the container B backwards and expel the flare and parachute, the

velocity will not be sufficient to cause any excessive jerk on the cord H when the parachute opens, so that there is no likelihood of injuring the parachute in the normal operation of the device.

In the short trajectory followed by the container B before its contents are expelled. the projectile may or may not tumble, owing to the fact that the weighted end is rearward, but this will make no material difierence in the proper functioning of the device.

By having all of the parts ejected from the gun of light material, such as fiber, or cardboard, or the like, the container would be disrupted when the expelling charge explodes; but even if not disrupted, the container will be light and will fall downward without the danger of injuring persons or property beneath. Obviously, it is most objectionable to drop heavybodies from any rigidity.

height in such a way as to injure persons or contents comparatively light, there will be less energy required in ejecting the container from the gun, and, consequently,less shock or recoil to the piece.

In other words, it is especially desirable to make the parts as light as practicable as is consistent with the requisite strength and While we have shown a parachute having a flare as important features of the projectile, it will be obvious that other illuminatmg or signaling devices may be used; or other devices may be carried in the large container, and we do not mean to limit the invention to this particular arrangement.

It will be obvious that various changes might be made in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which could be used without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we do not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what 'we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 2-- 1. Fixed ammunition for use with firearms, comprising a cartridge case, with an ejecting charge mounted in the base thereof, and .a projectile having a stem projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, the said stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the expelling charge, means controlled by firing the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, and a flare and a parachute mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted .to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the expelling charge. Y

12. Fixed ammunition for use with firearms, comprising a cartridge case, with an ejecting charge mounted in the base thereof, and a projectile having a hollow stem projecting'into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem,

jecting into said cartridge case, and .an enarged loading chamber in front of said stem,-

an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, a time fuse ignited by firing the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, and a flare and a parachute mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the expelling charge.

4. Fixed ammunition for use with firearms, comprising a cartridge .case, with an ejecting charge mounted in the base thereof, and a projectile having a hollow stein projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading "chamber in front of said stem, an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, a time fuse ignited by firing the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, a flare mounted in said loading chamber, a parachute mounted in said loading chamber in front of said flare and a flexible connection between said parachute and said flare, said flare and parachute being adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the expelling charge.

5. Fixed ammunition for use with fire- I arms, comprising a metal cartridge case, with an ejecting charge mounted in the base thereof and a projectile comprising a light nonmetallic container, having a hollow stem projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem,

non-metallic container, having a hollow stem projecting 1nto said cartridge case, and anenlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, a time fuse ignited by.

firing the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, and signaling devices mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted .to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the expelling charge.

7. Fixed ammunition for use with firearms, comprising a cartridge case, with an ejecting charge-mounted in the base thereof, and a projectile comprising a light nonmetallic container, having a hollow stem projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, the said stemhaving a chamber for thejexpansion of the gases from the expelling charge, means-controlled by firing'the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, and a flare and, parachute mounted in v said loading chamber, and adapted tobe ejected by the gases from the expelling charge.

8. Fixed ammunitionfor use with 'firearms, comprising a metallic cartridge case, with an ejecting charge mounted in'the base thereof, and a projectile comprising a light non-metallic container, having a hollow stem projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading. chamber in front of said stem, an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, means controlled by firing the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, a flare mounted in said loading chamber, a parachute mounted in said loading chamber in front of said flare, and a flexible connection between said parachute and said flare, said flare and parachute being adapted to be ejected from said container by the gases from the expelling charge. a

9. Fixed ammunition for use with firearms, comprising a cartridge case, with an and a projectile'havin'g a hollow stem projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, and an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, a time fuse ignited by firing the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, a flare mounted in said loading chamber, a pair of wads mounted in said loading chamber in front of said flare, 'a

stiflening rod interposed between said wads,

a parachute mounted in said loading chamber between said wads, and a flexibleconnection between said parachute and said flare,

said flare and parachute being adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gasesfrom the expelling charge.

10. Fixed ammunition for use with. firearms, comprising a metallic cartridge case,

with an ejecting charge mounted in the base thereof, and a projectile comprising a light non-metallic container, having a hollow stem projecting into said cartridge case, and an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, an expelling charge mounted in the base of said stem, means controlled by firing i tween said Weds and e flexible connection arms comp-rising a metallic cartridge case with m ejecting charge mounted in base thereof, and a projectile comprising a light non metallic container, having e hollow stem projecting into said cartridge case, and en emerged loading chamber in frent of said stem, an expeiiing charge mounted in the base of said stem, a time fuse ignited byfiring the ejecting charge for igniting the expelling charge, a flare mounteoi in said leading chamber, a pair of Weds meunte6 in said. loading chamber in front of said flare astiftening rod interposed between said Welis eperm chute m0unte i in said loading chamber be tween said wedis endl surrounding said fed and a flexible cennection between said perechute and said flare said flare ami parachute being adapted te be ejected from said centeiner by the geses from the expelling charge LOUIS L. BRIGGS JR. HENRY Bo FABEE; 

